Combined air-check and release valve.



No. 793,607. PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905.

E. F. OSBORNE. COMBINED AIR CHECK AND RELEASE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1904.

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E. P. OSBORNE.

COMBINED AIR CHECK AND RELEASEVALVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1904.

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E. F. OSBORNE. COMBINED AIR CHECK AND RELEASE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1904.

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PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE F. OSBORNE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO OSBORNE STEAM ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- RATION OF ILLINOIS.

COMBINED AIR-CHECK AND RELEASE VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,607, dated June 27, 1905.

Original application filed November 23, 1903, Serial No. 182,334. Divided and this application filed May 19, 1904. Serial No. 208,777.

To (til whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE F. OSBORNE. a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Air-Checkand Release Valve; and I do hereby declare that I thefollowing is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. This invention relates to a combined aircheck and release valve adapted to be used in the exhaust-pipe of steam-engines, wherein the steam, after a portion of the heat thereof has been converted into power in the enginecylinder, is passed into a condensing apparatus in which the steam is condensed. The heat remaining in the steam may be further utilized in a condensing apparatus having the form of a steam-heating system in the manner shown in my copending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 182,334, filed November 23, 1903, of which this application is a division, or said condensing apparatus may be of any of the well-known types of that class in which the steam is condensed without attempt to utilize the heat of condensation. In the apparatus shown in said application a reducing-valve is inserted into the exhaustpipe between the engine and said air-check and release valve, the purpose of which reducing-valve is to reduce the pressure of the steam to a point below atmosphere, the steam being employed in the heating device at such low or negative pressure. In the practical use of a combined power and heating system, such as is illustrated in my aforesaid application, it ofttimes occurs that by reason of the continuous use for a given load of the engine and a variable use of the heating system or a variation of the load in the engine within wide ranges the heating system does not utilize all of the exhauststeam discharged from the engine, so that there is in the exhaust-pipe of the enginean sure.

plication to provide a device by the use of which is prevented a back pressure in the exhaust-pipe beyond a certain or predetermined maximum pressure, preferably near atmospheric pressure, and which when such pressure is exceeded is promptly opened and held open independently of the steam-pressure in the exhaust-pipe, thereby requiring no steampressure to hold the same open nor producing pressure in the exhaust-pipe when the valve is open.

The movable part of the valve is held closed with but little force which is overcome to start the valve to open with a pressure but slightly greater than atmospheric pres- Said movable part of the valve is connected with a balancing device which is so related to the movable part of the valve that the latter overbalances the weight of the balancing device when the valve is closed; but when the valve starts to open the balancing device acts with a gradually-increasing force. When the valve is fully open, the parts to wit, the valve closure and balancing device are in a practically unstable equilibrium and the kinetic energy of the steam flowing past the valve serves to hold the valve open, though without producing pressure in the exhaustpipe. Upon the reduction of pressure within the exhaust-pipe the atmospheric pressure acts to close the valve and prevents the leakage of air into the exhaust-pipe.

My improved valve is adapted to be held normally fully opened or fully closed and to be promptly opened when its opening movement begins. To this end the valve is so constructed that when closed the area against which the atmospheric pressure acts is in excess of that against which the steam acts, so that a slightly greater than atmospheric pressure is required to start the opening movement of the valve, and after the valve is partially open the area against which the steam acts is suddenly increased to practically that against which the air acts. As a result the valve when opened sufficiently to expose the added surface of the closure to the action of the steam tends to open quickly. In the ordinary use of the valve it is designed to be opened by the blows produced by the exhausting impulses of the engine rather than by an accumulative pressure in the exhaust-pipe.

In the practical operation of the apparatus in which my valve is embodied the conditions are usually such that the valve does not open and close frequently. Usually in an appara tus of this kind there is ample exhaust-steam, so that under ordinary conditions the valve will be open and the exhaust-pipe beyond the valve filled with steam, though perhaps not passing therethrough in any considerable volume. Upon a decrease in volume of the exhaust-steam, and a consequent decrease in pressure in the exhaust-pi pe, the valve is closed to avoid the leakage of air into the exhaustpipe. After a resumption of the former con ditions the valve is again opened to release the exhaust-steam in the manner described.

I preferably employ in connection with the valve of the character described a retarding device, assoclated with the counterbalancing device, which is so constructed as to prevent abrupt movements of the valve during its opening-and closing movements, whereby'is prevented such jars and shocks on themoving parts of the valve as is objectionable. preferably employ in connection with the movable part of the valve a device'in the nature of a-dash-pot, which is located within the valve-casing and cooperates with the valveclosure in'a manner to retard the closing movement of the-closure, and thereby prevent the valve-closure and seat being injured by.

the abrupt closing of the valve.

1 have shown in the drawings one approved form of my improved air-check and release valve; but it will be understood from the description which follows that the structural details thereof may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

As shown in the drawings, Figurel is adiagrammatic view-illustrating the relation of my improved valve in a combined power and steam heating system. Fig. 2 is an axial section of the valve. Fig. 3 1s a detail section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, the parts beingremoved from the valve-casing. Fig.4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are details illustrating devices for adjusting the angle of the weighted lever constituting part of the counterbalancing device for the valve-closure.

As shown in the drawings, A designates a steam-generator, and B an engine of a power plant, which engine recelves steam from thegenerator through a pipe at.

B designates the exhaust-pi pe of the engine, which is connected with the distributing-pipe O of the heating system; and J designates a steam-heating device or radiator receiving steam from the distributing-pipe O.

.B designates a steam-separator in the exhaust-pipe.

D'designates any approved form of backpressure or reducing valve which reduces the pressure of the steam in the distributing-pipe C. As herein shown, said reducing-valve is of the type illustrated in mycopending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 69,202, filed July 22, 1901.

F designates the combined air-check and release valve constituting the present invention and which is located in the exhaust-pipe be .let and outlet passages f f respectively,

provided with flanges for attachment to the sections of the exhaust-pipeB'. The casing is providedinteriorly thereof near *its lower end-with a reducedannular flange F which constitutes an-extension- -of the inlet branch f of the Valve-casing and is formed at its upper end toconstitute a seat against which fits a vertically-movablevalve-closure. Said closure embraces an upper plate F or lower disk'F", which fits closely within the annular flange F and a ring f confined between said plate anddisk and extends-radially beyond the disk forcontact with the annular valve seat. Said ring is madeof a metal softer'than the valve-seat andis located so as to be readily removable. The plate and disk areclamped together by a screw-threaded stem which con-' Thestem extends centrally through the upper'plate F and has screw-threadedengagement with a socketed' stitutes the-valve-stem F lugformed onthe lower" face of the disk. The disk F is'providedwith guide lugs or ribs f which hold the closure properly alined with respect to its seatwhen thevalve is open.

Said stem F is connected at its upper end by,

means of links f f*' with an oscillatory vertically-swinging lever F which is'pivoted at one end to apivot-pin f ,'afiixed to one side wall ofthe casing, and is'providedat its other end with a curved gear-segment F. Said gearsegment-F meshes with a similar gear-segmentF, which-1s non-rotatlvely fixed to the shaft'F that-isrotatively mounted in a sleevebearin g f formed", as herein shown, in'a removable part' of the valve-casing.

One end of the rock-shaft F extends outwardly through the sleeve f 6 and said end of the sleeve is provided with a stuffing-box f action of the weight may be properly adjusted which surrounds the rock-shaft to prevent the leakage of air or steam past the same. Rigidly attached to said extended end of the shaft is a weight-arm F The arm carries at its outer end an adjustable weight F and also a flat retarding-plate F. which is herein shown as attached to or formed integral with the weight F So far asthe effect of the retarding-plate is concerned it need not be formed on or attached to said weight F. If desired, a second retarding-plate F may be attached to the end of the arm opposite the weight F It is to be understood that said retarding-plates are designed to be made light and do not serve per se as weights. When the valve is closed, as shown in Fig. 2. the weighted arm F assumes an angle to the horizontal in the neighborhood of sixty degrees, and

the said weight and movable parts of the valve are so proportioned that when the arm is at this angle the valve and the parts which move therewith overbalance the weight F and its arm. A pressure in the exhaust-pipe somewhatin excess of atmospheric pressure is required, therefore, to initially lift the valve to open the same. By reason of the disposition of the weight and the arm shown, however, when the valve begins to open by reason of the superior steam-pressure beneath the same in the exhaust-pipe the raising of said valve acts through the gears F F 7 to throw the outer end of the arm F downwardly, and when said lever begins to move downwardly its weight aids to open the valve, and such force is gradually increased until the lever approaches a horizontal position. The retarding plate or plates F prevents the valve from being too abruptly opened by the combined action of thesteam pressure and the weight. The weight is so proportioned relatively to the weight of the valve and the parts .whichmove therewith that when the lever occupies its lowest position, and when therefore the valve-closure is fully opened, the arm and weight balance the closure and the parts which move therewith in such manner that no other force other than that exerted by the kinetic energy of the steam escaping past the same is required to hold the valve open. The valve is thus held open in a state of unbalanced equilibrium. When the valve is thus open and the pressure in the exhaustpipe falls below atmospheric pressure, such atmospheric pressure acts on the upper face of the closure to close the valve. The closing movement of the valve is retarded, however,

to prevent the closure striking the seat with objectionable force by the retarding plate or plates F and by the action of a dash-pot device hereinafter to be described.

Means are provided for varying the angle of the arm F relatively to the rock-shaft F whereby, taken in connection with the movability of the weight in the lever, as shown, the

to balance the movable part of the valve, as described. Said means consist of a short collar f which is rigidly affixed to the rock-shaft F and is provided with an annular flange f a nd a disk f which is free to rotate on said rockshaft and is adapted to be rigidly interlocked with the arm F The interlocking connection shown consists of a notch 7 in the outer face of the disk which receives said arm, and the arm and disk are affixed to the shaft with the faces of the flange f 8 and disk f engaging each other by means of a screw-boltf, extending through the arm and disk and into the end of the rock-shaft, as shown in Fig. 4. The adjacent or contacting faces of the disk orflange are provided with ratchet-teeth f, Figs. 6

and 7 whereby when said parts are locked together by the bolts f the disk f 9 and interlocked arm are held immovably with respect to the rock-shaft at the angle desired.

Referring now to the construction whereby the lifting action of the steam on the valveclosure is increased during the first part of the opening movement of the valve, the'same is made as follows: The increased area of the valve against which the steam acts as the valve begins to open consists of that part of the ring f which is in line with the annular seat F and a circumferential extension f of the plate F Said supplemental area of the valve is not subject to the pressure within the exhaust-pipe until the disk F is raised fully above the seat-flange F; but when said disk is so raised above said seat-flange the action of the steam on the added area of the valve is to give an added impetus to the rise of the valveQwith a result of increasing the speed of its opening movement. 'Said extension f of the valve-plate F is provided with a downwardly turned annular rim F which iits closely within an annular inwardly -facing seat formed in a vertical annular flange F in the casing just outside the seat-flange F thereby forming between the flanges F F an annular chamber F t, which is more or less filled with water. The lower edge of therim F is shown as made of such length that it does not move off its annular seat during the opening movement of the valve until after the disk F* has fully passed the level of the seat-flange F When the disk F is raised sufficiently to permit the steam to pass between the same and the seat-flange into the annular chamber F, the expansive action of the steam acts upon the added or supplemental area of the valve-closure, and after the valve-closure has been raised sufficiently for the steam to escape past the rim F the kinetic energy of the steam is also brought to bear against the valve to open the same. Upon the closing of the valve-closure due to the reduction of pressure in the exhaust-pipe nular chamber F before the disk F enters the annular seat-flange and displaces a por-- tion of the water from said chamber before the passing of the disk into said seat-flange cuts off the escape of water. The part of said annular chamber F not filled. with water is filled with steam, and when said disk F passes below the seat-level said steam is imprisoned in said chamber. In the further descent of the valve-closure after the steam is thus imprisoned the said steam is compressed, with a result of retarding the seating movement of said closure. The parts are so proportioned that the closure is brought to rest gently against itsseat, thereby avoiding wear by impact of the closure and seat. It will be observed that by reason of the escape of the water from the annular chamber F so long as space is afforded for such escape between the disk F and seat-flange the steam is sealed in the upper part of said chamber and is not allowed to escape, whereby the cushioning effect of the full body of steam so trapped is utilized.

The operation of the valve above described may be briefly stated as follows: When steam is being utilized in the circulatory pipe C of the steam-heating system or is received by any other condensing apparatus as rapidly as it is discharged into the exhaust-pipe, the combined air-check and release valve is closed, so as to prevent the leakage of air into the exhaust-pipe. Upon a reduction of the use of the steam in the steam-heating system or other condensing apparatus or upon an increase of the volume of exhaust-steam the pressure in the exhaust-pipe is increased, and such increase of pressure on the under side of the valve-closure resisted by the atmospheric pressure on the upper side thereof acts to force the valve-closure away from its seat. By reason of the overbalance of the movable parts of the valve tending to hold the same closed and the retardation of the movements thereof by the retarding devices described the valve does not begin to open until there is an accumulated pressure in the exhaust-pipe somewhat above atmospheric pressure. In other words, it is not intended that the valve shall be opened at each temporary increase of pressure due to each separate exhausting impulse. The valve is designed to be opened, however, upon the required accumulated pressure by the blow or impact due to the exhausting impulse and when so opened shall remain open until the mean or average pressure in the exhaust-pipe shall-be again reduced belowatmospheric pressure-that is to say, owing to the retardation of the movements of the valveclosure, which operates with the effect of a brake, the valve-closure does not seat during the temporary red uctions of pressures between successive exhausts of the engine. The valveclosure is raised by the combined effects of the accumulated pressure and the supplemental area subjected to the action of the steam after its initial opening movement. The overbalance of the valve-closure is gradually overcome as it rises, and the weight-arm F assumes a horizontal and more effective position and the parts are so disposed that when the arm occupies a horizontal position it almost balances the valve-closure and the parts which move therewith, and the valve is held fully open thereby and the kinetic energy of the steam flowing past the same. It will be understood that the area of the steam-passage in the casing around the closure whenthe latter is raised is substantially the same as the area of the exhaust-pipe, whereby there is little or no check to the escape of the steam through the valve. The retarding plate or plates F prevent the valve-closure from being quickly raised or lowered and also prevents the closure being seated at each temporary reduction of steam-pressu re in the exhaust-pipe. Upon a reduction of the pressure in the exhaust-pipe caused either by a decreased load on the engine or an increased use of the steam in the heating system or other condenser the valve is closed by the atmospheric pressure acting downwardly against the closure, and thereby preventing air entering the exhaust pipe through said valve. Upon the closing of the valve the cushioning effect of the steam and water present in the chamber F after the 9 lower edge of the rim F has passed the upper edge of the flange F and the disk has passed into the annular flange F 2 acts to prevent the abrupt seating of the valve in the manner before described.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe, anda condensing apparatus which receivessteam from said exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond its connection with the condensing apparatus, comprising, in combination with a casing and its valve-seat, a vertically-movable closure which engages said seat to close the valve, and designed to be shifted to open the valve by a pressure slightlygreater than the normal back pressure of the engine, and a balancing device associated with the closure and into the influence of which the closure is automatically brought as it is moved away from its seat, said balancing device holding the closure fully open independentof the steam-pressure of theexhaust-pipe.

2. The combination with an engine, its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from said'exhaust-pipe,.of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond the connection of the exhaust-pipe with the condensing apparatus, comprising in combination with a casing and its valve-seat, a closure engaging said seat in a manner to close the valve, and designed to be opened by a pressure slightly greater than the normal back pressure of the engine, and a balancing device associated with the closure and constructed to automaticallybalance the closure and the parts movable therewith when the closure is in its open position.

3. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from said exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe comprising in combination with a casing and its valve-seat, a verticallymovable closure which engages said seat to close the valve and designed to be shifted to open the valve by a pressure slightly greater than the normal back pressure of the engine, a balancing device associated with the closure and into the influence of which the closure is automatically brought as it is moved away from its seat, said balancing device holding the closure fully open independent of the steam-pressure in the exhaust-pipe and a retarding device for retarding the movement of the balancing device.

4E. The combination with an engine, its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from said exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond the connection of the exhaustpipe with the condensing apparatus comprising, in combination with a casing and its valve-seat, a valve-closure engaging said seat to close the valve, and designed to be opened by a pressure slightly greater than the normal back pressure of the engine, and a balancing device constructed to substantiallybalance said closure and the parts which move therewith when the closure is in its open position, comprising a swinging arm which is operatively connected at one end with the valve-closure and provided at its other end witha weight, said arm assuming an upwardlyinclined'position when the valve is closed, and swinging downwardly as the valve is opened.

5. The combination with an engine,-its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus which.

receives steam from said exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond the connection of the exhaust-pipe with the condensing apparatus comprising, in combination with a casing and its valve-seat, a valve-closure engaging said seat to close the valve and designed to be opened by a pressure slightly greater than the normal back pressure of the engine, a balancing device constructed to substantially balance said closure and the parts which move therewith when the closure is in its open position. comprising a swinging armwhichis operatively connected at one end with the valve-closure and; provided at its other end with a weight, said arm assuming an upwardly-inclined position when the valve is closed, and swinging downwardly as the valve is opened, and means for varying the angle of said arm relatively to the horizontal plane of the axis of movement of said arm.

. 6. The combination with an engine, its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from said exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond the connection of the exhaust-pipe with the condensing apparatus, comprising, in combination with a casing and its annular valve-seat, a valve-closure engaging said seat to close the valve, and designed to be opened by a pressure slightly greater than the normal back pressure of the engine, a balancing device constructed to substantially balance said closure and the parts which move therewith when the valve is open, said balancing device embracing a swinging arm which is operatively connected at one end with the valve-closure and provided at its other end with a weight, and an air-retarding device attached to and movable with the arm.

7. The combination with'an engine, its eX- haust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from said exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond the connection'of the exhaust-pipe with the condensing apparatus, comprising, in combination with a casing and its valve-seat, a valve-closure engaging said seat to close the valve, and designed to be opened by a pressure slightly greater than the normal back pressure of the engine, a balancing device constructed to substantially balance said closure and the parts which move therewith when the valve is open, said balancing device embracing a swinging arm which is operatively connected at one end with the valve-closure and provided at its other end with a weight, said lever assuming an upwardly-inclined position: when the valve is closed, and moving to a substantially horizontal position during the opening movement of the valve, and a fiat plate attached to said lever and movable therewith and acting to retard the movement of said lever and the associated valve-closure during both the opening and closing movements of the valve.

8. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from the exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond its connection with the condensing apparatus comprising, in combination with a casing and its valve-seat, a valve-closure engaging the seat to close said valve and designed to be opened by pressure of the steam in the exhaust-pipe, and a balancing device operatively connected with the closure and constructed to substantially balance the closure and the parts which move therewith when the valve is opened, thereby requiring no pressure in the exhaust-pipe to hold the valve open.

9. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from the exhaust-pipe, of acombined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond its connection with the condensing apparatus comprising, in combination with a casing and its seat, a valveclosure engaging the seat to close said valve and adapted to be opened by pressure of the steam in the exhaust-pipe, a balancing device operatively connected with the closure and constructed to substantially balance the closure and the parts which move therewith when the valveis opened, thereby requiring no pressure in the exhaust-pipe to hold the valve open, and a retarding device associated with the balancing device and acting to prevent abrupt movements of the parts during both the opening and closing of the valve.

10. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from said exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in said exhaust-pipe beyond its connection with the condensing apparatus comprising, in combination with a casing and its annular valveseat, a valve-closure engaging the seat to close the valve, a stem connectedwith said closure, a vertically-swinging lever above the valveclosure pivoted at one end in said casing and connected between its ends with said stem and provided at its other end with a gear-segment, a second segment meshing with the first segment, and a vertically-swinging weighted arm rigid with said second segment.

11. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from said exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond its connection with the condensing apparatus, comprising, in combination with a casing and its annular valveseat, a valve-closure engaging the seat to close the valve, a stem attached to said closure, a vertically-swinging lever hinged to the casing above said closure and connected with the stem, and provided with a gear-segment, a rock-shaft mounted in the casing, a gear-segment fixed to the rock-shaft and meshing with the gear-segment of said lever, an arm affixed to said rock-shaft and a weight attached to said arm, said weight and arm being constructed to substantially balance the weight of the valve and the parts which move therewith when the valve is open.

12. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from said exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond its connection with the condensing apparatus, comprising, in com bination with a casing and its valve-seat, a valve-closure engaging the seat to close the valve, a stem attached to said closure, alever hinged to the casing above said closure and connected with the stem, and provided with a gear-segment, a rock-shaft mounted in said casing, a gear-segment fixed to said rock-shaft and meshing with the gear-segment of said lever, a vertically-swinging arm fixed to said rock-shaft, a weight attached to said arm, said weight and arm being constructed to balance the weight of the valve and the parts which move therewith when the valve is open, and means for varying the angle of said arm with respect to the horizontal plane of the axis of said rock-shaft.

13. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from said exhaust-pipe in the exhaust-pipe beyond its connection with the condensing apparatus, of a combined aircheck and release valve, comprising, in combination with a casing and its annular valveseat, a valve-closu re engaging the seat to close the valve, a stem attached to said closure, a vertically-swinging lever hinged to the casing above said closure and connected with the stem, and provided with a gear-segment, a rock-shaft mounted in the casing and extendingat one end thereof, a gear-segment fixed to the rock-shaft and meshing with the gear-segment of said lever, an arm fixed to said rock-shaft, a weight attached to said arm, said weight and arm being constructed to balance the weight of the valve and the parts which move therewith when the valve is open, and aflat retarding-plate attached to and movable with said arm.

14. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from the exhaust-pipe, in the exhaustpipe beyond its connection with the condensing apparatus, of a combined air-check and release valve comprising, in combination with a casing and its annular valve-seat, a valve-closure engaging said seat to close the valve and subjected at its lower side to the pressure of the exhaust-pipe and at its upper side to atmospheric pressure, the side of the valve subjected to steam-pressure being of less area, when the valve is closed,

than the side which is subjected to atmospheric pressure, and the area subjected to the steam-pressu re being increased when the valve opens, and means independent of the steampressure in the exhaust-pipe for balancing the valve-closure in its open position.

15. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaustpipe, and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from the exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond the connection thereof with the condensing apparatus, comprising, in combination with a casing and its annular valve-seat, a valve-closure engaging said seat to close the valve and subjected at its lower side to the pressure of the exhaust-pipe and at its upper side to atmospheric pressure, the side of the valve subjected to steam-pressure being of less area, when the valve is closed, than the side which is subjected to atmospheric pressure, and the area subjected to steam-pressure being increased when thevalve opens, and a dash-pot within the casing for retarding the final seating movement ofthe valve.

16. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from the exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve. in the exhaust-pipe beyond its connection with the condensing apparatus, comprising, incombination with a casing and its annular valveseat, a valve-closure engaging said seat to close said valve and subjected at its lower side to the pressure of the exhaust-pipe and at its upper side to atmospheric pressure, the side of the valve subjected to steam-pressure being of less area, when the valve is closed, than the side which is subjected to atmospheric pressure, and the area subjected to the steam-pressure being increased when the valve opens, a dash-pot within the casing for retarding the final seating movement of the valve, and means independent of the steampressure in the exhaust-pipefor balancing the valve in its open position.

17. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from the exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond its connection with said condensing apparatus com prising, in combination witha casing and itsannular valve seat, a valve closure engaging the seat to close the valve and subjected at its lower side to the pressure of the exhaust-pipe and at its upper side to atmospheric pressure, said closure being provided. radially outside the seat with a radial extension which is subjected to steam-pressure when the valve is partially opened, thereby increasing the lifting action of the steam on the valve-closure, and the casing being provided with an interior annular chamber which cooperates with an annular part on said extended portion of the closure and constituting a dash-pot to retard the final seating movement of the closure.

18. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from the exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in the exhaust-pipe beyond its connection with the condensing apparatus comprising, in combination with a casing and its annular seat, a valve-closure engaging said seat to close the valve and subjected at its lower side to the pressure in the exhaust-pipe and on its upper side to atmospheric pressure, said closure'being extended radially beyond its seat, anannular chamber surrounding the valve-seat,

and a rim depending from the valve-closure and fitting closely within said chamber, said chamber and rim constituting a dash-pot to retard the closing movement of the valve-closure.

19. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus receiving steam from the exhaust-pipe, of an air-check and release valve in the exhaustpipe beyond its connection with the condensing apparatus, comprising, in combination with a casing and its annular valve-seat, a

i valve-closu re comprisinga plate provided with v a seat-ring which fits againsta disk to the under side of said plate and fitting within the annular seat and extends below the seat when the valve isclosed, said plate being extended radially beyond the seat and provided with a depending annular rim, and an annular flange located outside of the seat and between which and the said flange'is formed a chamber which receives the rim of said closure-plate. v

20. The combination with a steam-engine,

its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus recelvmg steam from the exhaust-pipe, of an air-check and release valve in the exhaustpipe beyond itsconnection with the condensing apparatus, comprising, in combination with a casing and its annular valve-seat, a valve-closurecomprising a plate provided with a seat-ring which fits againsta disk to the under side of said plate and fitting within the annular seat and extends below the seat when the Valve is closed, said plate being extended radially beyond the seat and provided with a depending annular rim, and an annular flange located outside of the seat and between which and the said flange is formed a chamber which receives the rim of said closure-plate, said annular rim of the closure-plate being made of such length that the said disk of the closure is raised above the seat-line before said rim is raised above the flange into which the rim extends.

21. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe, and a condensing apparatus receiving steam from the exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve com prising a casing, an annular seat therein, a closure comprising a plate provided with a seat-ring which fits against the seat and attached thereto, a disk which fits within the annular seat and extends below the seat when the valve'isv closed, said plate being extended radially be-' yond the seat and provided with a depending annular rim, and an annular rim located outside of the seat and betweenwhich and the said rim or flange is formed a chamber which receives the rim of said closureplate, and means for balancing the valve when opened independently of the pressure of the steam in the'exhaust-pipe.

22. The combination with a steam-engine, its exhaust-pipe and a condensing apparatus which receives steam from the exhaust-pipe, of a combined air-check and release valve in said pipe comprising, in combination with the valve-casing and its annular valveseat, a valve-closure which fits flat on said seat to close the valve, a dash-pot within the casing for retarding the final seating movement of the closure comprising an annular chamber surrounding the seat and adapted to receive .my invention I aflixmy signature, in presence water of condensation from the exhaust-steam,

es, this 16th day of May, A.

and an annular. flange 0n the closure radially of two Witness outside of its seatingface which enters said 1904:. chamber before the closure seats and which EUGENE F. OSBORNE. 5 fits closely within the outer wall of the cham- Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. HALL, GERTRUDE. BRYCE.

ber but not filling the same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas 

